Winton Castle, Pencaitland
Winton Castle, located near the village of Pencaitland in East Lothian, is a magnificent Scottish Renaissance castle surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and rolling countryside. Just 30 minutes from Edinburgh, the castle combines historic grandeur with a warm, lived-in charm, making it a popular venue for weddings, private events, and corporate gatherings. Steeped in over 500 years of history, Winton Castle retains many original architectural features, including intricate plaster ceilings, grand fireplaces, and elegant wood panelling, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into Scotland’s noble past.
Philip de Sayton’s grandfather fought with William the Conqueror at Hastings in 1066.
Winton was built by the Setons following a grant of land by David I to Phillip de Sayton in 1150. Phillip’s grandson married the sister of King Robert ‘The Bruce’ of Scotland. In the sixteenth century, Henry VIII had Winton burnt in an effort to impress Mary Queen of Scots, and Mary Seton was later her Lady-in-Waiting.
The Seton’s tenure lasted until 1715 when they backed the Jacobites and the Earl of Winton was taken to the Tower of London.
The Earl’s capture ended an era when Kings were entertained and master craftsmen were engaged fresh from Edinburgh Castle to embellish Winton Castle in the style of the Scottish Renaissance. In the absence of the Earl but in his name, Winton was requisitioned by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 when his rebel army camped on Winton Estate.
The Hamilton Nisbets, who bought the Castle and Estate in 1779, linked it to one of the greatest inheritances of the 18th and 19th centuries. The furnishings came from all over Europe and the Turkish Empire and the impressive estates covered some of the country’s best farmland. Golf was not just a pastime but was carried out on estate land, which, at that time, included Muirfield and Gullane Links.
For over a century, Winton has hosted musical evenings and private functions.
Today Winton is the family home of Sir Francis and Lady Ogilvy. Since 2000, the castle has been a popular hospitality venue for business events and private parties, conferences and meetings, product launches and weddings. Guests also enjoy activities and team building events in the grounds.
How to get there
From Edinburgh, the North and West:
Follow City By-pass (A720) to the A1 (south). Turn off at Tranent. Follow the road through Tranent (pass the kids’ playpark), then turn left on the outskirts of Tranent along the B6355 towards Pencaitland. Follow the road through New Winton. You will see the north entrance to Winton Castle on the right on a sharp corner.
From the A68
From the A68, follow the A6093 to Pencaitland. Continue along the A6093 towards Haddington through the centre of the village of Pencaitland. Go through the traffic lights and over the old bridge. Drive slowly for about 100 metres (past Pencaitland Church) and look for the concealed gates and driveway on the left. This is a sharp turning to the left which is easy to miss. Cars can follow this drive from the south gates direct to Winton Castle.
From Haddington & the East
From Haddington and the east, follow the A6093 to Pencaitland. At the crossroads on the outskirts of Pencaitland, cars can go straight on for about 100 metres then turn right into the gates and driveway on the right. This drive (south entrance) goes direct to Winton Castle.
Public Transport
There are buses from Edinburgh to Tranent or Pencaitland provided. Tranent is about 3 miles and 5 minutes from Winton.
Regular trains can be caught from Edinburgh to Wallyford on the North Berwick. Wallyford station is about 10 minutes from Winton. Or, you can catch a train to Newcraighall (the Tweedbank / Scottish Borders line). Train timetables can be checked at thetrainline.com.
If you need to be picked up at Wallyford or Newcraighall, you can call a local taxi firm such as Colins Cabs (01620 825825) or AC Taxis & Minibuses (0131 665 5000).
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